New Book Makes Retirement Planning “Incredibly Simple”

Sept. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Thousands of Baby Boomers are asking, “What will I do in retirement?”  Perhaps more urgently, thousands of Boomer spouses are asking, “What will I do when my spouse retires?”

Now a new book claims to make retirement planning “incredibly simple.”

WHEN I RETIRE takes a unique approach to retirement planning.  There are no treatises on the history of retirement, no theories on the psychology of retirees.  Instead, there are checklists of ideas, and inspirational quotes from famous writers and regular retirees.  The book’s subtitle, while a mouthful, says it all:  The Fastest, Easiest Way to Make Your Retirement Fun, Fulfilling, and Significant.

“It’s pretty simple,” says author Andy Landis, a well-known retirement expert.  “Readers get checklists with hundreds of ideas to browse, suggesting what a fun, meaningful retirement might look like.   But the checklists are just the jumping-off place, the spark.  Very quickly they’re writing down their own ideas, and gathering them into a comprehensive life plan.”

WHEN I RETIRE openly says that it’s not a financial guide.  It is instead a tool for “life planning” for retirement, going beyond the money to design “an abundant retirement, a retirement life worth living, that makes you eager to get up every day, no matter your budget,” says Landis.  “It’s great to save for retirement, but you also have to ask what the money is for.”

Traditional topics like financial preparation and estate planning are addressed.  Other chapters examine family relationships, housing, social contact, retirement activities, travel, education, health, volunteer or paid jobs, and more.  Each chapter starts with a brief introduction by Landis, then launches the checklists of “inspirations.”
   
Included are exercises by eminent life planners, including George Kinder, Helen Dennis, and Rein Selles, to stimulate the reader’s “retirement vision.”  Simple tools sort all the reader’s thoughts into a personal retirement plan.  A comprehensive “Resources” chapter adds an exhaustive bibliography and list of websites for further study.

Landis is well-known in retirement planning circles.  He has worked with retirees and pre-retirees for over 35 years at Social Security, AARP, multinational corporations, and in his own practice, Thinking Retirement.  He is the author of Social Security, The Inside Story, widely regarded as the best book on the topic.

Why write WHEN I RETIRE?  “Two reasons,” says Landis.  “One, people know what they’re retiring from, but not what they’re retiring to.  Pre-retirees actually fret about this—and their spouses even more.  What will I do every day?  Who will I hang out with?  How will I avoid boredom and decline?  They need a simple guide to design a new life that entices.”

“And two, the Social Security books exercise my mind.  WHEN I RETIRE opens my heart.”

WHEN I RETIRE is available from Amazon.com in print or Kindle formats, and in bookstores.

ABOUT ANDY LANDIS
Andy Landis is a Certified Life Options Retirement Coach and an internationally-known author, speaker, and consultant specializing in Social Security, Medicare, and retirement lifestyle planning.

Since 1977 Andy has worked closely with pre-retirees and retirees at Social Security, AARP, a retirement residence, senior centers, multinational corporations, and his own practice, Thinking Retirement.

Through Thinking Retirement, Andy conducts Social Security, Medicare, and retirement seminars for the public, employers, financial advisors, and others.

His book, SOCIAL SECURITY, THE INSIDE STORY, is hailed as the best book on the topic.

Recent projects include contributing to the web video Investment Smarts for PBS and AARP.

Andy lives in Seattle with Kay, keyboards, camper, computers, cars, and sometimes kids.

Follow Andy and Thinking Retirement on Facebook.  Learn more at http://andy.landis.home.comcast.net/~andy.landis/tr.htm.

ABOUT THINKING RETIREMENT
Thinking Retirement is the professional practice of Andy Landis. Through Thinking Retirement, Andy conducts Social Security, Medicare, and retirement planning seminars for the public, Fortune 500 firms, public agencies, financial professionals, and others, and authors books and articles.  Founded in 1990, Thinking Retirement is based in Seattle, WA.